Former Butler Bulldogs standout Andrew Smith passed away on Tuesday following a battle with cancer. Smith was a member of the Bulldogs teams that played in back-to-back national championship games in 2010 and 2011 and was beloved by his teammates, coaches and most of all, his wife Samantha who tweeted this this morning:
Andrew peacefully passed away in his sleep and in my arms as I told him I loved him this morning. Love you always, Smith.
— Samantha Smith (@Samantha44Smith) January 12, 2016
Last week, Smith’s head coach at Butler Brad Stevens, now coach of the Boston Celtics, missed his team’s game against the Chicago Bulls so that he could visit his former player in the hospital. Stevens was visibly shaken by the news on Tuesday:
Coach Stevens is the best. RT @MattGlenesk: #Celtics coach Brad Stevens on Andrew Smith’s passing: (via @DaveFurst) pic.twitter.com/wSmGVcbyJH
— Jackie Chan (@Guppnasty) January 13, 2016
Another life gone too soon. R.I.P. Andrew Smith.